sfc itself has become corrupt, repairable?

[Paul Isaacs]

I have an XP install disk from 2002, i.e. no service packs. I've been trying
to use sfc with my i386 folder in Windows\ServicePackFiles but it hasn't
worked because it keeps asking for the install cd. After cancelling the
process a few times sfc seems to have become corrupted. When I run it it
/scannow, or even /?, it flashes on the screen for a moment, then
disappears, and then the mouse cursor disappears and the system
spontaneously reboots w/o logging off which causes a winlogon error when
windows restarts. But otherwise windows seems to work o.k. afterwards. I did
a system restore from safe mode just in case.

Is there any way to repair the sfc module(if that's the right word)?

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

I have an XP install disk from 2002, i.e. no service packs. I've been
trying to use sfc with my i386 folder in Windows\ServicePackFiles but it
hasn't worked because it keeps asking for the install cd. After cancelling
the process a few times sfc seems to have become corrupted. When I run it
it /scannow, or even /?, it flashes on the screen for a moment, then
disappears, and then the mouse cursor disappears and the system
spontaneously reboots w/o logging off which causes a winlogon error when
windows restarts. But otherwise windows seems to work o.k. afterwards. I
did a system restore from safe mode just in case.

Is there any way to repair the sfc module(if that's the right word)?

You can't know that sfc.exe is corrupted unless you see the exact error
message. Give yourself some eyes by doing this:
- Click Start
- Click Run
- Type the three letters cmd
- Click the OK button
- Type your sfc command, e.g.
sfc.exe /?
- Press the Enter key
What do you see?

 

[Paul Isaacs]

Well that worked. I typed sfc.exe /? and got the usual parameters listed.
Does this mean that the shortcut command 'sfc' is screwed up. Should I try
running /scannow? I'm a little nervous that something might get really
screwed up. Thanks Pegasus.

 

[meerkat]

SEE BELOW.

Well that worked. I typed sfc.exe /? and got the usual parameters
listed. Does this mean that the shortcut command 'sfc' is screwed up.
Should I try running /scannow? I'm a little nervous that something
might get really screwed up. Thanks Pegasus.

In case pegasus has gone to tea.
Go into the Command window again, and type...
SFC /scannow
then hit return
System File Checker will then start.
It might ask you for your CD to copy any files
it needs to repair/replace any damaged ones.

If you have done any online updates, that are not on your CD
you will get errors, but, you can punch your way thro` them.

bw..

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

What's there to be nervous about? A shortcut is entirely disposable! Get rid
of the current one, then create a new one!

 

[Paul Isaacs]

I didn't mean a desktop shortcut. I'm going to run and then type sfc. That's
what I meant by a shortcut, typing sfc instead of sfc.exe.

 

[Paul Isaacs]

I ran the sfc.exe. It went through with about 11 instances of wanting the
install cd even though I had my registry pointing to the i386 folder in
ServicePackFiles. So hopefully things are more or less ok. Thanks for your
help.